GILBERTSVILLE - Butternut Valley Grange, Gilbertsville, will convene for its monthly meeting on Monday, June 12, at 7:30 p.m. at the Grange Hall on Bloom Street. The primary business item is election of officers for 2023-2025. The collection of coins that started last fall culminates at this meeting with the proceeds to go to local food pantries.

A report of two resolutions that were submitted to Otsego Pomona were found favorable and will be forwarded to New York State Grange and officials that represent us in Albany and Washington for further support.

The local apple pie contest was conducted with Sandra Stoy, Family Activities Chair, reporting that our first place entries were Anna Ritchey for regular pie and Helen Ritchey for diabetic pie who will represent Butternut Valley at the Pomona level contest in June.

Mini meals will continue to be served to about 30 individuals the last Wednesday of May. The Grange also prepared and served the meal at the Sacred Heart parish hall in Sidney on May 25 to about 110 diners. The Grange has recently assembled 19 birthday kits and donated them to area food pantries to have on hand for families wishing to celebrate a birthday.

Pie teams are gearing up for homemade pies that will be sold at the Saturday morning local farmers’ market near the Post Office to help toward the Grange’s community service projects.

The Grange will be providing the reception and dinner for the local alumni banquet on Friday, July 21 with the planning committee, Anna Ritchey, Lynne Porter, Cathy Galley and Robert Evans.

Butternut Valley Grange will play host to a regional birthday party, celebrating New York State Grange’s 150th birthday on Saturday, August 26 at 2 p.m. The Butternut Valley Grange Singers will provide special music for the occasion. All Grange members in the area are urged to attend this celebratory event.

On a trial basis as members volunteer, we will have the first social time preceding the meeting on June 12, starting at 7 p.m. with Valerie Haynes and Molly DelGiacco hosting the social gathering in the auditorium of the Grange Hall for those that would like to arrive early.

- Submitted by Roger Halbert, Butternut Valley Grange